Alejandro Tabilo Upsets Novak Djokovic in Swift 67-Minute Victory at the Italian Open
In a stunning turn of events, Alejandro Tabilo managed to do what many tennis players have longed for – defeating Novak Djokovic within a mere 67 minutes of play. This unexpected outcome left fans and experts alike in awe of Tabilo's remarkable performance.
It only took Alejandro Tabilo 67 minutes to do what many tennis players have struggled to do - defeat Novak Djokovic. The Chilean managed to beat the world No. 1 and top seed 6-2 6-3 in the third round of the Italian Open on Sunday. This was the first time the two players had ever faced each other.
Tabilo, 26, expressed his amazement at being on the court, taking in the surroundings and trying to absorb everything. He mentioned that he was still trying to fully wake up, according to the ATP.
Djokovic, a six-time champion in Rome, faced challenges as he was broken four times by the world No. 32. This year, he has not yet secured a title and his five double faults proved to be quite costly.
“I was just trying to keep my nerves in, trying to keep swinging,” added Tabilo.
Djokovic has yet to win a title this year.
Djokovic has yet to win a title this year.
Claudia Greco/Reuters
Every time you feel like you're getting closer to the end, your arms start to tighten and your swings get shorter. So, I tried not to dwell on it and just focus on one point at a time. It's unbelievable, I can't wrap my head around what just happened.
Unfortunately, after losing the first set, Djokovic made a couple of errors by serving two double faults in the opening game of the second set. This mistake gave his opponent a significant advantage.
Djokovic's fourth double fault handed Tabilo his fourth break of the match, leading to his remarkable victory.
After winning his second-round match on Friday, Djokovic was hit on the head by a water bottle accidentally.
He mentioned to the media that he wasn't sure if the incident had affected his performance.
According to the ATP, he explained, "The training felt different. I didn't notice any specific changes, but I also didn't feel as usual."
Today (Sunday) was really stressful and it was not good, not because of pain, but because I felt uncoordinated. It felt like I was a completely different player compared to two nights ago. I might need to get some medical checkups to figure out what's happening.
Editor's P/S:
Alejandro Tabilo's stunning victory over Novak Djokovic is a testament to the unpredictability of sports. Despite Djokovic's dominant status, Tabilo played with determination and poise, taking advantage of his opponent's uncharacteristic errors. It is a reminder that even the greatest players can be vulnerable, and that anything is possible in the realm of competition.
Djokovic's ongoing struggles have raised questions about his physical and mental state. The water bottle incident may have had a greater impact than initially thought, and it is crucial for him to prioritize his health and recovery. The upcoming French Open is a major goal for Djokovic, and he will need to regroup and regain his form in order to contend for the title. The loss to Tabilo serves as a wake-up call, and it will be interesting to see how Djokovic responds in the weeks to come.
